THIS Leader Podcast

In this inspiring episode, I challenge leaders to shift from "accidental learning" to intentional development that accelerates career growth and impact. Most leaders treat professional development like a luxury, squeezing it between priorities or leaving it to chance. This reactive approach keeps you scattered and at risk of becoming irrelevant as leadership demands evolve.  In this episode, you'l...

In this episode, Claire explores the dangerous middle ground between unhealthy conflict and artificial harmony, and why smart teams sometimes hold themselves back by avoiding necessary strategic disagreements.  The Hidden Costs of Artificial Harmony  Most conflict avoidance comes from a good place—leaders trying to maintain relationships and avoid hurting feelings. But we've gotten really good at...

In this episode, I share a collaborative approach to project management that actually works, without overwhelming complexity. Fresh from facilitating a 3-hour session where 50 managers successfully drafted project plans, I reveal why traditional project management training fails and what works instead. The secret? You're not managing projects—you're managing people.  In this episode, you'll hear a...

In this conversation with Roxanne Harrison, we explore how ancient wisdom meets modern leadership through the powerful combination of the Enneagram and Qigong practices. From Resistance to Choice Roxanne's journey began with a neck injury that forced her to slow down and discover a pattern of constant resistance—always saying "no before yes." This resistance was actually a protective mechanism cov...

In this special AMA episode, I tackle two real leadership scenarios that feel like herding cats: uniting a fractured team and creating unified execution from scattered individuals. Both situations share the same fundamental challenge: bringing people together to create order out of chaos, whether that involves building a shared team culture or driving collective results toward a strategic vision....

In this episode, I challenge the idea that workplace misery is normal. You have a right to fairness, respect, psychological safety, and meaningful work—but rights without responsibility are just complaints. In this episode, you'll hear about: The Three Essential Roles: Everyone plays these roles in creating workplace culture, regardless of job title Owner Role - Orienting energy toward both happin...

In this inspiring conversation with communication expert Jared Fujishin, we explore his powerful "connection's key is less of me" framework that transforms how leaders build trust, influence, and loyalty. The Foundation: Less of Me, More Connection  The most effective leaders aren't focused on themselves—they're genuinely invested in others. When leaders operate from a "me, me, me" mentality, peop...

In this episode, I explore how to build and sustain a successful mentoring program with Kara Reddig, Deputy City Manager, and Femi Omotesho, Management Analyst from the City of Elk Grove. Why Mentoring Matters More Than Ever  Mentoring isn't just a nice-to-have, it's foundational to developing confident, capable leaders. The City of Elk Grove's program grew organically from a 2019 staff meeting on...

In this inspiring conversation with leadership expert Jonathan Bissell, we explore how to transform your leadership from reactive to intentional and create the kind of culture where people thrive. The Foundation: Belief Creates Transformation Everything starts with a powerful belief: investing in your people pays incredible dividends. When you truly embrace development as a core strategy, you'll c...

In this episode, I explore the concept of psychological safety and share specific communication practices that can transform your team culture. Understanding Psychological Safety: The Four Stages. Building on Harvard professor Amy Edmondson's research and Timothy Clark's framework, I explain how psychological safety develops through four distinct stages: Level 1: Inclusion Safety  – "Do I belong h...

In this episode, I explore why taking real time off is crucial for your leadership. I share my proven framework for making it happen without everything falling apart in your absence.  There's never a convenient time to take vacation; there's always another deadline, another project, another reason to stay connected. But I've discovered that my boldest ideas and biggest breakthroughs happen when I...

In this episode, we dive into the science of emotional contagion and how being intentional about the emotions you project can transform your leadership impact. Have you ever seen someone walk into a room and instantly shift the energy? That's emotional contagion in action. Emotions silently spreading from person to person, often without us realizing it. As leaders, learning to manage this contagio...

In this episode, I explore how identifying and leveraging your natural talents can transform your energy, impact, and results, both for you and your team. Have you ever felt like the daily grind is draining the life out of you? Many leaders I talk with feel this way - not because they don't like their jobs, but because they're spending too much time on tasks that exhaust them and not enough on wor...

In this episode,  Claire Laughlin shares her team's complete goal-setting system that keeps strategic priorities front and center all year long. Learn how to transform vague annual objectives into actionable steps that create real momentum. We're officially into Q2, and if you're like most leaders, those ambitious January goals might be fading into the background as daily demands take over. This e...

In this episode, Claire  Laughlin dives into the art of effective meetings and how to transform them from time-wasters into productive, energizing experiences. What You'll Learn: The invisible workflow that underlies all good work and why understanding it matters for meeting design The five essential meeting types that every leader should master:  Ideation Meetings for defining problems and genera...

In this episode, we delve into the complex reality that change is inevitable in our workplaces. Whether you formally lead a team or not, developing skills to navigate change effectively makes you an invaluable asset in today's rapidly evolving environment. Understanding the Three Dimensions of Change Change we choose versus change imposed upon us Change that feels favorable versus unfavorable Chan...

In this episode, we explore the critical relationship between emotional intelligence and effective leadership, with practical tools to enhance your impact through emotional awareness.  The Leadership Imperative for Emotional Intelligence: Emotions are valuable data points, not workplace liabilities. Research confirms that leaders who accurately identify and manage emotions consistently outperform...

In this episode, we explore: The surprising truth about rest and recovery - they're not just ways to avoid burnout, but essential components of high performance leadership. I share my personal journey from being someone who couldn't imagine taking meaningful breaks to understanding how strategic recovery enhances productivity. The Science of Rest & Performance:   Why sleep is the keystone to good...

In this episode, we dive deep into the burnout epidemic affecting today's leaders and what you can do to break free from this destructive cycle. The Burnout Crisis Among Leaders The statistics are alarming—76% of employees experience burnout, with mid-level leaders being especially vulnerable as they juggle multiple responsibilities. When a leader burns out, it creates a ripple effect, impacting t...

In this episode, we explore how to re-energize teams that feel disconnected and flat in our post-pandemic workplace reality.   Understanding the Post-Pandemic Workplace Challenge I introduce the concept of "pandemnesia" and examine how our adaptations to remote work have created: More meetings but less quality collaboration More communication channels but less genuine connection More work volume b...

In this episode, we explore: The Strategic Value Gap:  Understanding why even accomplished professionals struggle to articulate how they're measured at work The Job Pie Exercise:  A visual tool to determine where your time and energy should be allocated for maximum impact Practical Value-Adding Strategies: Creating your Strategic Value Proposition using ideal vs. real job allocation Implementing t...

Feeling undervalued at work can be discouraging, and workplace loneliness is at an all-time high. Join in as Claire Laughlin teaches how genuine recognition and appreciation can transform team engagement and retention. Understand the key reasons why appreciation matters and how leaders can build a culture where employees feel seen, valued, and motivated.  In this conversation: The alarming statist...

Welcome to THIS Leader! We all know that leadership is rewarding but can also be challenging! In this episode, join Claire as she shares: Why your leadership impact matters more than your title (and how this realization will transform your approach to team development) The surprising truth about leadership that will free you from the constant pressure to have all the answers How to stop feeling gu...

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by leadership challenges or struggled with defining your leadership standards, this episode is for you! In this powerful episode, we dive into one of the fundamental secrets of high-impact leaders: setting clear leadership standards. Discover the 5 Cs of leadership that can transform how you show up as a leader, even in the most challenging situations. Learn practic...

The 'THIS Leader' podcast explores the transformational, high-impact secrets that turn the ordinary people into extra-ordinary leaders! THIS Leader is hosted by Claire Laughlin, an organizational development consultant. She and her guests will explore: How individuals can enhance their leadership impact by showing up as their personal best, how teams can leverage connection and clarity to experien...